Florida State Wide
Stopping human trafficking in our state is a top priority of mine, and has been since I became Attorney General. Florida is a zero-tolerance state for this terrible crime that robs victims of their freedoms, and my office and our partners are working diligently to rescue victims and lock up the monsters who traffic them. Just this week, working with local, state and federal partners, we arrested a man charged with recruiting women online and then forcing them into the sex trade.
The facts of this case are appalling. The defendant is charged with preying on women and, in some cases, using violence to force them into sex trafficking—all while depositing large amounts of cash into his bank account. According to the investigation, the defendant recruited victims using online advertisements seeking to hire young women to work as dancers or companions. Victims who answered the ads, in some cases, were forced through violence to perform sex acts to profit the defendant. Continue reading
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Today, the Department of Economic Opportunity announced that Florida’s unemployment rate dropped to 3.8 percent in September, the lowest rate in more than a decade. As of September, Florida’s unemployment rate had dropped 6.9 percentage points since December 2010, faster than the national decline. Private-sector businesses were severely impacted last month by Hurricane Irma, which resulted in survey data showing a reduction of job numbers solely for the month of September. To help Florida families and business owners quickly recover from this massive storm, Governor Scott has activated multiple disaster-related resources, such as the Disaster Unemployment Program, the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program and the Florida Citrus Emergency Loan Program. Continue reading
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Following a request from Alachua County Sheriff Sadie Darnell, Governor Rick Scott today signed Executive Order 17-264 to assist local law enforcement’s response to rallies planned on the University of Florida campus this Thursday. EO 17-264 activates Florida’s Mutual Aid Plan which allows the state and Sheriff Darnell to quickly coordinate resources from other state, county and municipal law enforcement agencies. See the Executive Order HERE.
Governor Scott remains in constant communication with state and local law enforcement and University leadership to ensure that every request to the state is quickly granted to keep the public safe. Continue reading
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Today, Governor Rick Scott announced one reappointment and two appointments to the Florida Violent Crime and Drug Control Council.
William Snyder, 65, of Stuart, currently serves as the Sheriff of Martin County and received his bachelor’s degree from Florida Gulf Coast University. Sheriff Snyder is reappointed for a term beginning October 16, 2017, and ending on June 30, 2019.
A.J. “Tony” Smith, 58, of Apalachicola, currently serves as the Sheriff of Franklin County and received his bachelor’s degree from Barry University. Sheriff Smith succeeds retired Sheriff Ben Johnson and is appointed for a term beginning October 16, 2017, and ending on June 30, 2019. Continue reading
TALLAHASSEE, Fla.—Attorney General Pam Bondi’s Office is participating in the first coordinated federal-state civil enforcement crackdown involving student loan debt relief scams. These scams unlawfully took a combined total of more than $95 million in upfront fees from students nationwide. The crackdown involves a total of 36 state or federal actions against student debt relief companies, with Attorney General Bondi’s Office filing two of these lawsuits, as well as a third action to compel compliance with an investigative subpoena. The Attorney General’s Office also reached a settlement with a student loan debt relief company in a fourth matter that ensures the company will no longer operate in Florida. Continue reading
This week, as part of a delegation of attorneys general from around our country, I met with Moroccan government officials in an effort to strengthen the working relationship between our countries and bolster efforts to combat human trafficking, cybercrimes and other transnational crimes. This outreach comes at an opportune moment as Morocco just last week implemented reforms that create an independent judiciary and public prosecution agency.
Morocco is a growing country with one of Africa’s largest seaports—located on the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea near Spain and Portugal. Morocco’s geography and growing economy make it a potential pass-through for human traffickers and other transnational criminals trying to gain access to North America. Continue reading
Region’s labor force grows, jobless rate drops to 5.1%
OCALA, Fla. (Sept. 15, 2017) – The region’s labor force grew both over the month in August and over the year due to the one-two punch of more jobs and fewer people looking for work.
The jobless rate in the CareerSource Citrus Levy Marion region was 5.1 percent last month, down over July by 0.3 percentage point and 1.2 percent less than the rate a year ago of 6.3 percent.
The labor force was 200,114, up 336 over the month and 2,028 more than in August 2016. There were 10,223 unemployed residents in the region, down 403 since July and 2,196 fewer than a year ago. There are 189,981 residents with jobs in the region, an increase of 739 over the month and 4,224 more than a year ago. Continue reading
Hurricane Irma has had an unprecedented impact on our state. She has tested our emergency systems, our state leadership, our utility companies, and our commitment to our communities. The preparation engulfed the news cycle for weeks, and now the recovery will do the same. This storm has revealed character within our local and state officials and reminded many Floridians why it is so important to listen to their direction. She tested our ability to prepare and obstructed power supply and fuel supplies in a way that many had forgotten a hurricane could. She caused the cancellation of a committee week of the Florida Legislature and of school in many areas. And yet she also forced us together in amazing ways; reminding us of all those things that matter most like life, health, safety, home, family, community, service, and liberty to go meet challenges with one another. As we begin to recover in our own communities and as a state, we must remember to continue to engage in our community and help those around us that are in need. Continue reading
Many Florida communities are trying to rebuild after Hurricane Irma ripped through their counties. Irma uprooted trees, destroyed homes and flooded streets—damaging vital infrastructure. In some cases, debris is making it impossible for utility workers to gain access to areas to restore power and causing other access issues. City and county leaders are trying desperately to remove this debris but are running into issues with their contractors prioritizing other, more lucrative jobs or demanding higher rates. Continue reading
PROTECTING FLORIDIANS
Hurricane Irma ripped through our state this week, leaving a path of destruction that will take months to repair. Millions are without electricity and fuel. Thousands more suffered home damage or flooding. As Floridians begin to pick up the pieces, they should be wary of common scams that arise after natural disasters—including: debris-removal, tree-service, home-repair, disaster-relief and water-treatment scams.
To guard against scams, research a company or contractor, ask for references and get multiple quotes before signing a contract. Beware of any unsolicited offers or contractors claiming they can perform repairs at a discount with leftover supplies from another job. Never pay the full amount up front and do not make final payment until completely satisfied with the work performed.
Additionally, the state of emergency remains in effect statewide and that means Florida’s price gouging law still applies to anyone selling essential commodities or services. Anyone who suspects price gouging or any scam should call my office at (866) 9NO-SCAM or file a complaint online at MyFloridaLegal.com. Continue reading
